CHICKEN ROPA VIEJA

You are due a recipe. I made this yesterday for today's lunch...and it worked (kinda). If you are expecting "real" ropa vieja..then it didn't work at all. If you are expecting "something Latin American over rice"..then it worked. The secret to happiness? LOWER EXPECTATIONS!! My adjustments are in the [....] Chicken Ropa Vieja (Instant Pot Recipe) A (messy but good) Cuban meal made with chicken instead of beef. Ingredients 1. 1 tbsp. oil [or not] 2. 1 cup sliced baby carrots [1C shredded carrot] 3. 1 1/2 cups chopped red onion [used yellow onion, aka "what i had"] 4. 1 large red bell pepper (sliced)[used one bell pepper...see "what i had"] 5. 1 large green bell pepper (sliced) 6. 3 large garlic cloves (minced) 7. 1 cup chicken broth [used tea...yummier?] 8. 14.5 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes [regular diced tomatoes +1T chipotle sauce] 9. 2 tbsp. tomato paste 10. 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar 11. 1 tbsp. ground cumin 12. 2 lb. chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)[used 2x leg quarters, ~1#, not boneless/skinless...skinned] 13. [1/2 b/s chicken breast...had to use up from the freezer...needed to add more chicken] 14. 2 large bay leaves Instructions [saute/steam veg in water in pammed IP liner...add rest....cover and IP for 21 minutes...have a life...remember that you have chicken going...take off lid as it has been over a half hour since the cooking ended...put in fridge to serve in the future] or..... Press the "Sauté" button on your IP. Add the oil, along with the carrots and onions. Stir until the onions are translucent. Add in the peppers and garlic and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more. Pour in the canned tomatoes and chicken broth and add the tomato paste, apple cider vinegar and cumin as well. Stir to combine. Turn off the sauté function and add the chicken. Stir to combine, and then gently press the bay leaves in without breaking them. If needed, simply spoon some of the mixture over the leaves. Secure the lid and close the vent on your IP. Press the "Meat/Stew" button on your IP or set to 35 minutes on high pressure with the Manual button. Allow a 10 minute natural release, then open the steam valve to release any remaining steam. (Don't burn yourself on the steam!) Remove the lid and shred the chicken with either two forks, or an electric hand mixer on it's lowest setting. [chicken will shred by itself...so very cooked....toss bay leaves and random bones...] Serve with rice and beans. A side of fried plantains is also a yummy addition. [ i did this...and added more chipotle sauce at serving...sosososo good...] This makes A LOT so i will be making Sopa Azteca with the chicken/veg that remains...Stay tuned for how that works out.